Start A New Life- Moving out and other things

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#StartANewLife

Marrying young has its down downfalls and comes with a lot of responsibility. Moving out from my cozy room where I stored thousands of books and so much space to even have a over flowing wardrobe, I just had to marry an army officer. The house was a two bed house with a small kitchen and I had my reservations on how my stuff will adjust anywhere at all. But I warmed a bit and pulled my sleeves up, determined to make my bare house, a home. It started all with a lot of gusto, getting the curtains up, the sofas set and the new LED television in our bedroom. The kitchen where only I wipped out my Hyderabadi recipies, I realized that moving out of my parents home was the best thing that had happened to me. Not that I didn’t miss them, but because I had so much to learn here. My friends in Hyderabad had already moved away and my only friend was my husband now. Talking over the phone for hours was not my thing anyway.

The time came when we bought brand new gadgets and life was getting comfortable with just the two of us. But a tragedy stroked and while we were on a vacation, our house got burgled. It wasn’t horrible to see your things splattered all over the place and the things we bought just taken away from us. The culprits were no where to be found. I felt naked, as if my life was out in the open now, seen my some petty strangers. My tears were soon wiped and my husband took me for a quick shopping outside. We couldn’t afford to buy new stuff anymore but thanks to EMI, we did get by. I remember how strong I had to be for both of us and because I had to forgive those people and move on with my life.

We still had so many places to see though. And after two years in Jalandhar, we moved to Madhopur, setting up our house again. Starting over and cheering to new beginnings. We had our first baby here and the house became special to me as I lovingly decorated the little teddies around the house in blue.  My writing career was taking off too and I was a freelancer for a children’s magazine. It filled me with happiness and anticipation when we moved again to Orissa for my husband’s study course. The beach and the fresh air did us good and as a couple we just got stronger and setting up a house now became a very easy process, knowing where everything had to go. With a baby on tow, I carried him around and made sure that no matter where we lived, our lived will always be happening and new.   

Together- Our First Dance

I was nineteen, a fresher in college, still deciding what I wanted to do with my life and trying to make sure that I didn’t fall for the wrong guy. But then ‘It’ happened. I perhaps have too many happy memories attached with this one, so I am going to tell you a story of how I met a handsome cadet at the National Defence Academy. Apparently he was going to change my life up-side down. The NDA ball and the ambiance of love and youth just filled the dance floor and I ended up having him as a ball partner. Here was a boy of twenty one who pulled out a chair for me and asked me what I would like for a drink- complimented politely on my smile while gazing quiet intently in my eyes, hoping for some sort of connection that we could have. The night was getting a little chilly then- no he didn’t offer me his coat as you hope- he just held me close when we danced without ever touching me. The hours flew and it was time for dinner. I was supposed to use the fork and a knife while eating my bread and it took me a while to realize that I had it all wrong. I was still trying to look dignified and totally prepared for this kind of treatment. Formal dinners with guys were really new to me. Still this quiet young man, just encouraged me to try desserts that looked like mashed cake in custard and it tasted like heaven. I was always a fussy eater but here I was experimenting with food. Something in him made me want to be a little more than the shallow me.  I saw couples all around me, some dating seriously and some just filling in place for another but everyone were having a good time. He asked me to wait outside at the steps and I left to do his business. I roamed around looking through the menus attended by dignitaries of various countries. Half an hour passed by and still no sign of him. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. I must have sounded silly to him. The thoughts were still going through my head. He came back, panting a little, looking off.

 “I asked you to wait. I thought you left me”.

“No. I couldn’t leave you”.

I didn’t know how true those words were. With a shy smile, we resumed towards the dance floor.

 It was time for a last dance and we did a waltz on ‘Pehla Nasha’. Since I was no Beyonce, I compensated with wrapped my arms around his neck and moving with the music. He was surprised, I could see that but totally enjoying the attention I was giving him. But then, he didn’t know that he had treated me like a lady all evening and this was the first time I had nothing to give in return for his kindness.

The clock was soon to strike twelve and Cinderella had to go home. But he wanted me to see where he lived. When you are in your teens, you really take decisions by your heart and I went along with it. The squadron was huge, no girls allowed rule was still on. So we followed it like good little children. I took time to look around, waste time because I was so reluctant to leave him. Our steps dragging when he had to drop me home and the last thing we did was exchange numbers.

I was perhaps too much of a cynic back then to accept a permanent commitment but when you have to fall in love, you do. And that night became the foundation of a long distance relationship that we continued for the next three years. Writing letters to him on a weekly basis till he completed his training, talking over the phone after a long day just taught us that love means patience. When he proposed- he asked me to be his girlfriend and I refused.

“Then be my wife”. I was zapped at his eagerness and sincerity.

That happened ten years ago and today I am married to this wonderful army officer, confident and loving- who still pulls out the chair for me and makes me feel like a woman. 

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Half Girlfriend- A Book review

Author- Chetan Bhagat

Plot- Madhav is a Bihari boy with big dreams who falls in love with the beautiful Riya, a rich lass from Delhi. There are some fundamental differences between the two. Madhav’s English isn’t all that great, but Riya speaks the best English. Madhav wants Riya to be his girlfriend but Riya disagrees. She wants them to be just friends but he definitely wants more. Riya finally comes up with a suggestion, a compromise – she agrees to become his half-girlfriend!

My Take- No matter what or who says about Chetan Bhagat's set of books are just crap, I can honestly tell you that crap sells in millions. So no way am I going to give a great review about this book because I got to be honest to myself before writing rave reviews about it. But its a decent book and goes in a great flow and the story of a Bihari student and a hot delhi girl is believable. Bhagat has scripted it with a happy ending because he is soon planning a movie based on his book but the bits and pieces of Ria's life was interesting. Her childhood abuse by her father is somewhat shocking which explains her bad relationship with her parents. The bad marriage with a bossy mother in law and a weak husband who doesn't want her to be a modern girl even in the US just makes it a little sad. I was kinda teary eyed when i came to know that Ria was going to die. Her way of hiding her feelings what makes the story interesting. Madhav's constant struggle with having to speak good accented English becomes the highlight of the story and soon you find yourself hoping that our hero doesnt have to be perfect. He comes out as a man who wants to get intimate with Ria. And with all the resistence, Ria's wall of shadows begin to crumble. This story is just not just about finding love and getting married, it is about following your dreams no matter what and whom you have to leave behind. 

What to look out for? 

Well the end is certainly unexpected of a normal love story. You will love it. 

What makes it a little dull?

It looks like a script for a bollywood movie where a few dance and song sequences could be inserted.

Rating- 3/5

When we adopted a Dog

Woody and Vivaan getting acquainted

When you adopt a dog in the army...the whole concept of taking care of a dog takes on a new turn. We just added Woody to our lil family of 'Singh'. Already living in Manipur was making life a monotonous affair. So the lil dog, brown fuzzy brown of cuteness was going to change our lives. With Vivaan already we had compromised a lot with sleep and given half our lives to him, how much trouble can a dog be? Turns out, its a full time responsibility too. You gotta train the guy and make him pee outside or else your house is just ruined mess of stink.  The sleeping pattern didn't match either. You just gotta make him learn to relax when you are on off mode. My motive in life soon became to teach Woody to sit. To my wonder Vivaan taught him to fetch ball. Now that was some accomplishment. When nights with the month old Woody became tough, we promptly handed him to our sahayak. He maintained his timings to eat and to walk. 

In search of some mischief

And when it came time to play Vivaan and me just couldn't stay away from his enthusiastic licks of affection. Sometimes when i sit and relax, he comes over and takes his place on my lap as if he had all the right in the world. Perhaps it was his place because i found myself relaxing in his warmness and his ever loving eyes. He is three months old and making lives a bit different than we were used to.

Well he is playful and it takes it difficult to say no at times. Vaccinated and all dogs do get jealous and with Vivaan being my baby, he scratched him badly. It wasn't a fun ride to the hospital believe me and we had to calm our boy down with chocolates and hot wheels. We had to get him give anti rabies injection too. Perhaps i regretted having a dog when i heard my son cry.

But noone gives up on family, do they?

And we didnt. We are just a little bit stern with both of them now. And the playtime is just stuck to fetching ball now or running after it. Anyways excitement never ceases to end and we got a few rabbits too who mostly stay put in their house we made. From a city girl to a full time mommy and part time writer now, i certainly have my hands tied up in knots. 

The Magician Who Lost His Wallet- A book review

Author: Gautam Acharya

Plot:

A world of magic if thats what you expected then you are going in for a treat. A totally unpredictable book, you will have a very Indian detective novel with Debu as our Sherlock Holmes, or at least when he tries to be. But the interesting plot starts with a wallet dropped at a mall and the man disappearing after the act. Debu who was the only witness to this, picks up the wallet trying to return the wallet. Things begin to get exciting after this.

My Take:

Read it on: https://webookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/on-book-review-the-magician-who-lost-his-wallet-by-gautam-acharya/

The Fault In Our Stars- A book review

Author: John Greene

My Take: 

To be blinded by a book that leaves you in tears after every other sentence is a book that very difficult to read. But i accomplished the task which was not only a tremulous ride through the lives of every character in the book but also a journey to remember by. How life is held on to, fought for and let go off because you couldn't fight anymore. But with cancer eating away Hazel' s life, she goes everywhere with her oxygen tank and staying alive is what matters her the most. Her mother wants her to see more of her life and not be depressed about her disease. The cancer support group becomes a blessing in disguise and she finds the "love of her life" in Augustus Waters.

Her obsession to the book An Imperial Affliction leads to her trip to Amsterdam with Augustus's help. He uses the only Wish he could have with the "genies". His love for her is beyond the physical attraction. Their time spend together and their verbal banter over Imperial Affliction makes a wonderful heartbreaking story. You cannot forget the Mom and Dad who are sweet people with just one goal as to keep their daughter happy and alive. Isaac is weird and lovable while making a friend to Augustus. They are kinda there for eachother. His unfinished love story with Monica doesn't leave you cold either. The ups and downs of cancer inflicted people has made me realize that life is precious and you cannot take anyone for granted. The dialogues are truly touching- not the fake tall claims of love but seeing the realistic situation of Hazel and Augustus, they seem the believable couple they are.

The movie has been out and it will be great to put a face on the characters. A no- flaw book, The Fault In Our Stars is life changing book that will change your life.

Rating: 4.5/ 5 

A Vacation In Kerala And Other Places

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